Preps

Loveland's Ball, Thompson Valley's D'Ambrosia save best for last

Each finishes career strong

By Mike Brohard

Sports Editor

Posted:
05/25/2014 04:02:19 PM MDT

The beach at Lake Loveland may not be ready, but the members of the All-Area boys swim and dive team always are up for a race. The team consists of Thompson Valley's Chris Eddy, Liam Gately, diver-of-the-year Sage D'Ambrosia, Jake Von der Lippe and Jack Thorne and swimmer-of-the-year Ryan Ball, Jackson Buyers and Dylan McNally of Loveland. (Steve Stoner / Loveland Reporter-Herald)

Every senior athlete has the same exit strategy: Leave them with your best effort.

While this year's All-Area Boys Swim and Dive team is loaded with underclassmen, the seniors at the top of the list — swimmer of the year Ryan Ball of Loveland and diver of the year Sage D'Ambrosia of Thompson Valley — will have no regrets when they look back on their final showing.

For Ball, it went beyond taking down the one city record he targeted before the season. While D'Ambrosia's final display came a week earlier than he or the Eagles would have liked, he improved each and every meet throughout the season.

That's closing in style, and while they head the team, they are joined on the squad by Thompson Valley's Chris Eddy, Liam Gately, Jack Thorne and Jake von der Lippe, as well as Loveland's Jackson Buyers and Dylan McNally.

Ball was the all-around swimmer he has always been for the Indians throughout his four years. His versatility is not run-of-the-mill either. It comes with outstanding results from each and every race, regardless of the stroke.

He posted the top time in the area in three events, from the 50-yard freestyle to the 500 free (a school record 4:35.11) and the 200 individual medley mark he coveted, hitting an All-American time of 1:50.58 to place third at state and add that to the city record he owns in the 100 butterfly. He also had the second-best area time in four other events, third on the only other one on the board. In short, he's the only area swimmer to have a top-three time in every event.

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At the 5A state meet — which was blistering fast with 25 All-American times and 28 more up for consideration from the finals — Ball didn't wilt. In addition to the 200 IM, he also took fifth in the 500 free with a consideration time of 4:37.23, just off his school mark of 4:35.11.

"I was so excited. It's gotten so fast," he said of the meet. "Just to be there, to make finals, to medal, it was something that I'll always remember, and I'm proud to say that I went to state."

Coaches love the dynamic of a swimmer like Ball brings to the team, the reason why Wyoming offered him a full-ride for next year. They also value leadership, and that's an arena where Ball really wanted to succeed.

And did.

"I always hoped I would grow into a leader, and I hope I was a leader for my team, and I hope they remember me," he said. "I wanted them to feel out swimming, but I also wanted them to have a good time. To learn about the sport, to enjoy it. I think I led them in a way that really helped them learn about the sport and enjoy it."

D'Ambrosia entered the season part of a talented diving crew at Thompson Valley and exited as the clear-cut leader. He came in with talent as a freshman and leaves the school at a much higher level, a career arc that is impressive by any standard.

"Honestly, I didn't think I'd ever be where I'm at," said D'Ambrosia, who will sign with Colorado Mesa. "I didn't think I'd be in the 500 (point)-class diver range or anything like that. I shows how if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish it."

D'Ambrosia was named the Northern Conference diver of the year after winning the crown with a personal-best score of 499.80. In his final two 11-dive competitions, he improved by 64 points by fine-tuning the little things that take place in every dive, and he was anxious to take the next step at state.

Considering each score he posted during the season was better than his last, he was a good bet to hit that 500 total. Unfortunately for the senior, a diving mishap in practice led to a broken leg and surgery the day before state. The rest of the qualifiers honored him by allowing him to still march out to begin competition, even though he could only watch.

It was hard, but it helped knowing the points he would have scored didn't hurt the Eagles in the team race (they finished second in 4A, and even a win wouldn't have moved the team up). That, and knowing his last performance was his best to date.

"It definitely helps that I peaked, but I still feel I could have taken another step up," he said. "There's no point in getting down on it, because I can't really control it. I just take everything good out of it that I can."

Buyers — The Loveland sophomore qualified for two events at state and came back with a 15th-place finish in the 100 backstroke. He improved across the board in his swims, posting top-three times in a trio of events.

Eddy — The freshman placed at the 4A meet in two events, taking fourth in the 500 free and ninth in the 200 free. It was a strong debut performance at state, as he shaved time in both the prelims and finals.

Gately — Another freshman distance swimmer for the Eagles, he placed second in the 500 free and fourth in the 200 free. He also showed growth in his strokes by placing in the 200 IM at the Northern Conference meet.

McNally — The junior was one of the top sprinters in the area, posting strong times in both the 50 and 100 frees. He also produced some big swims in duals, helping the Indians win a couple of tight finishes in the Front Range League.

Thorne — The junior won a pair of state titles — he now has three — and lowered his city and classification records in the 100 backstroke in the process. He had the top area time in the 100 fly and 100 back — his state-title events — but also appeared on the list in the 200 IM and 100 free.

von der Lippe — The senior posted the best 100 breaststroke time in the area this year, and nearly dipped below the 1-minute barrier in taking fifth at state. He was also sixth in 4A in the 200 IM, dropping below 2 minutes, moving up two spots in both finals races.

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